Every year, in the month of meenam (April-March) on the Malyali Calendar, thousands of devotees gather in the Sree Kurumba Kavu Kodungalloor temple (where Festival of the Oracles – Kodunalloor Bharani is celebrated) to sing and chant and cheer the Goddess Kali who resides within.
Legend speaks of her victory in the battle against Darikan that left her raging until her soldiers gathered around her and sang to uplift her mood. Re-enacting that to this day, the devotees gather and sing their Pattu in honour of the goddess.
They do this to seek redemption for their sins. Wrapped in yards of vermillion cloth often stained red with blood.
Thousands of devotees gather in the Sree Kurumba Kavu Kodungalloor temple to sing and chant, and cheer the Goddess Kali (Photo Credit – Subin Sailendran)
The festival of oracles
What makes this festival particularly spectacular is a ritual called kaavu theendal. Hundreds of oracles, both male and female, throng the temple grounds for three days. Bedecked in jangling bells and smeared with holy ash, they stumble through the compound chanting and striking at the temple walls, and themselves, with sticks and swords. The devotees lash out at the rafters of the temple, tossing offerings in over the walls.
The festival is one of its kind. It surges with unabated energy that soars on for three days until the local king, seen as the temple keeper, gives blessings to the devotees lying before him. It’s an otherworldly experience that can make you question your beliefs about spirituality and human society. Also, a great reason to travel!
To get to Thrissur ,you can fly directly into Kochi. Most major airports in the country fly to Kochi, or take a train. From there, it’s a quick 3-hour drive or an additional 2-hour train journey.
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The festival is one of its kind, surging with energy that soars unabated for three days (Photo Credit – Subin Sailendran)
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a yearly festival dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali at the Kodungallur Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple in Kerala. The festival is known for its unique rituals and vibrant atmosphere.
In the first century BC, Kondungallur was a busy port as it was a gateway for many religious faiths such as Judaism, Christianity, and others.
Bharani is under the domain of Yama, Kali, also known as the god of death.
About Harsh Sonawala
Harsh Sonawala is the co founder of India Someday and since his childhood, he has travelled to different parts of India and the world. The thrill of travelling and sharing his experiences with others was the reason behind starting India Someday. Other than the office where he is conjuring up marketing ideas, he can be found scuba diving in the Andamans or relaxing in a chalet in the Himalayas.
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